Valve mechanism for shower-baths.



PATENTED DEC. 22 1903.

H v 0. H, ROI-LLINSQ VALVE MECHANISM FOR SHOWER BATHS.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1902.

11o MODEL.

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PATENTED DEG. 22,1903.

UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

CHARLES H. RoLLINs, or WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTOEDGAR W. .ANTHONY, OF BROOKLINE,

- OHUSETTS.

MASSA- VALVE MECHANISM FOR SHOWER-BATHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,487, dated.beeemberaa, 1903. Application filed August 20, 1902- Serial N0.120,380.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. ROLLINS, of.

This invention has relation to valve mechanism for shower-baths, and hasfor its object to provide certain improvements therein by means of whichthe flow of hot and cold water can be accurately regulated.

In most buildings the cold wateris delivered under the service or streetpressure, while the pressure of thehot water is considerably less, owingto its being delivered from the overhead tank to the boiler and being nomore than the ordinary static pressure due to the height of thecolumn'of'water leading to the tank from the valve mechanism. Asheretofore arranged, it has been difficult to secure a proper mixing ofthe hot and cold water to reach a desired temperature without danger ofthe bather being scalded by a surplnsage of hot water in his endeavor toregulate the flow of hot and cold water.

Another object of the invention, therefore,

' is to provide a valve mechanism in which the sents in front elevationmy improved valve mechanism. Fig. 2 representsa longitudinal section ofthe same, showing the valves all closed. Fig. 3 represents a similarsection with the controlling-valve in position to cut off the hot Waterand deliver a small amount of cold Water. Fig. 4 represents a section onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents asection on the line 5 5 ofFig. 2. Fig. 6 represents in detail one of the barrels or bushings forthe regulating-val ve. Fig. 7 represents anotherinterchangeablebushing.Fig.8rep- 5o resents one of the valves.

On the drawings the mechanism is illustrated as being provided with amain casing l0, having depending therefrom two annular The interior ofthe casing is 5 flanges ll 12. I provided with a Web 13, which forms anopenended cylinder 1.4. A partition 15 closes communication between thetwo ends of the main casing, except for the openings which will besubsequently described. Outside of the web 13 and on both-sides of thepartition 15 are two chambers, (indicated, respectively, I.

at 16 and 17,) with which communicate the inlots formed by the annularflanges 11 and 12.

Communicating with the interior of the cylinder 14:,which forms amixing-chain ber,'there is a large outlet 18 for the discharge of water.To the inlets 11 and 12 there are attached valve-chambers 19 and 20,each being pro- The deliverywhich close With the pressure and normallyrest against the seats 21. Said valves are opened against the pressureof water byany' suitable mechanism. As illustrated, said, mechanismcomprises for each valve a stem 28, whose upper end fits in a guide 29,formed on the web 13. Each of the stems has attached thereto a block 30,which is loosely connected by a link. 31 with a crank-arm 32 on arock-shaft 38. Each rock-shaft passes through a stuffing-box formed intwo parts and indicated as a whole at 34. Each of the rock-shafts isprovided with an arm 35, the free end of which is connected to a link36, having a forwardly-projecting handle 37. By

swinging the handle to one side or the other the valves 26 27 may beopened or closed, as the case may be. The casing bears the Words Openand Closed to indicate the position to which the handle 37 should bemoved to open or close the valves 26 27. The movement of thelast-mentioned valves is simultaneous, so that were the pressure of thehot and cold water equal the-same amount of each would be delivered tothe chambers 16 and 17; but due to the high pressure of the cold waterit will be seen that there would be an excess of cold water.Consequently I provide a regulating valve, by which the amount of hot orcold water delivered to the lDlXlllg-(lllttllllJGl' may be governed tosuit any requirements.

In each end of the cylinder 13 there is placed a bushing or barrel 38,whose innerend bears against an internal flange or shoulder 39 or 39,which forms, as will be explained, a valve-seat. The other end of eachbarrel is formed with a second valve-seat, (indicated at 40 or 40) Thebushings are held in place by threaded washers 41. Each of the bushingscommunicates with the chamber immediately therebelow by a port 42, sothat when water is delivered to said chambers it can flow through saidports into the ends of the cylinder 13 and, if unimpeded, to themixing-chamber 14. One end of the main casing 10 is closed bya threadedhead 43 and the other by a head 44, having a stuffing-box 45. Anelongated valve-spindle 46 passes through the head 44 and thestuffing-box 4.5 and is provided with a thread 47 in operativeengagement with a thread formed on the interior of the head 44;, so thatby rotating said spindle by means of the wheel orhandle 48 it may beadvanced in one direction or the other. Secured to the spindles are twovalves, (indicated, respectively, at 49 and 50,) each of which is placedin one of the barrels 38. Each valve is substantially frusto-conical atone end and cylindrical at the other end and is adapted to engage eitherthe seat 39 or 39 or the seat 40 or 40, except that in the case of thevalve 50 the frusto-conical portion never comes in to actual intimatecontact with its seats 40 or 39 so as to entirely out off the flow ofwater, but will at all times permit a small amount of cold water totrickle pastit. Each valve is provided with a circumferential groove, inwhich is placed a rubber gasket 51, fitting fairly tightly against theinterior wall of the barrel. Consequently to provide for the flow ofwater past the said valve when itis not in engagement with either of itsseats the barrel 38 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal groovesor slots 52, which form waterconduits. Preferably I provide for eachcomplete valve mechanism a plurality of bushings or barrels havinggrooves varying in number and differing in width, so that 1 am able toprovide for a differential [low of water through the barrels, all otherthings being equal. When the valve-spindletlj is at the inward extremeof its movement, the valve 49 is seated against the seat -10 and thevalve 50 against the seat 39, and consequently no water can flow intothe mixing-chamber from t..e chambers lfiand l7 even though theinletvalves 26 and 27 be open, except a small amount of cold water. Ifthe valve-spindle now be moved slightly to the right, water may llowpast the valves 4.) and 50 into the mixing-chamber. 49 and 50 is suchIhe shape of the valves that as the spindle moves outward a greaterquantity of water can flow past the valve-seat 39 or .39 than can passthe seat 40 due to the conical end of the valve 49. A further movementof the valvespindle will permit a free flow of hot water past the valve49 and a checking of the flow of cold water; but as the valve-spindlecontinues its movement to the right the flat end of the valve 49 isbrought into contact with the valve-seat 39, so as to entirely cutoffthe flow of hot water, while at the same time the conical point of thevalve 50 does not come quite in contact with the seat 40 and a smallamount of cold water is permitted to leak past it. Thus at no time canthe hot water he admitted without the admission of more or less coldwater, and consequently there is no liability for an excess of hotwater. Preferably in each valve mechanism the barrels are furnished tomeet the requirements of the hot and cold water servicethat is to say,if the street pressure for the cold water is very high the number andsize of the slots in the barrel for the valve 50are reduced and theslots for the passageof the hot waterareincreased in size and width.Again, if it be found that under ordinary circum-' stances the hot wateris delivered at a very high temperature the barrel may be so arranged asto deliver a relatively small quan-,

tity in comparison with the amount of cold water delivered past' thevalve 50. For the sake of convenience I term the valves 26 and 27 theinlet-valves and the valves 49 and 50 the mixing or regulatingvalves,since they perform the functions suggested or indicated by thoseterms.

There are several advantages incident to the construction which I havethus described which it may not be amiss to enumerate: First, by theprovision of the inlet-valves 26 and 27 independent of themixing-valves, the flow of water into the valve-casing may be entirelycut off, so as to relieve all pressure from the stuffing-boxes andprevent danger of leakage past them, and, second, in order that theoperator may be reminded to close the inletvalves the valve 50 nevercomes tightly against either of the seats 39 -10, and consequently theleakage is sullicient to indicate that the flow of cold water is notontirely cut off.

I consider the employment of the slotted barrels or bushings as a greatconvenience, as the entire mechanism can be quickly adapted for anyparticular requirement without the change of any other of its parts.

It should be noted in conclusion that a complete movement of the mixingor regulating, valves in either direction will substantially cut ofltthe flow of both hot and cold water. Consequently where the valvemechanism isused in administering baths for medicinal purposes theattendant can by a slight movement in either direction effectverse?ively cut off the fiow of water in case it becomes necessary on accountof. the patients condition.

I may further state that the invention is.

not limited to the particular idea of its use as herein described, as itmay be employed in a variety of ways and for otherpurposes withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and explained a Way ofconstructing and using the same, although without having attempted toset forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modesof its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. A valve mechanism of thecharacter described, comprisinga casing having a mixingchamber and twoinlet-chambers, two inletvalves for admitting hot and cold water to saidinlet-chambers, and two connected mixingwalves governing the admissionof water from said inietchambers to the mixing-chamber.

2. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising acasinghaving a mixingchamber and two inlet-chambers, two inletvalves foradmitting hot and cold water to said inlet-chambers, means forsimultaneously operating said valves, and two simul tineously-operatedValves governing the admission of water from said-inlet-chambers to saidmixing-chamber.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a mixing-chamber with anoutlet leadin: directly therefrom, and two valve-chainbers communicatingat theirinner ends with seats at each end thereof, and connected valvesin said chambers adapted to cooperate with the seats therein, forgoverning the passage of water through said valve-chambers into saidmixing-chamber.

i. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a mixing-chamber, andtwo valvechambers communicating therewith, a valve in each chamberhaving two opegative ends one of which is tapering, two seats in eachvalve-chamber adapted to cooperate alternately with the valve therein,and means for simultaneously operating saidvalves.

5. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a mixing-chamber with anoutlet leading directly therefrom, and two valve-chamhers communicatingtherewith, and having separate inlets, a removable barrel or bushing ineach chamber having longitudinal conduits, and connected valves in saidbarrels orbnshings.

6. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a mixing-chamber, andtwo valvechamberscommunicating therewith, a longitudinally-movablespindle passing through v said valve chambers, two valves on saidspindle and arranged in said valve-chambers, and a seat at each end ofeach of said valve-chamhere with which one of the valves may cotipcrate.

7. A valve mechanismcomprising a casing havinga mixing-chamber, twoinlet-valves,

two regulating-valves interposed between the inlet-valves and themixing-chamber, and provisions whereby one of said regulatingvalves in aclosed position permits the leakage of a small amount of water exceptwhen the corresponding inlet-valve is closed.

8. A valve mechanism oomprisinga mixingchamber having an outlet leadingdirectly therefrom, two valve-chambers com municating therewith andhaving separate inlets, two connected valves operating in said chambersand interchangeable removable slotted bush ings or barrels in saidchambers.

9. A valve mechanism comprising a valvechamber havinga port and a seatat each end, a valve adapted to close against either seat, and a bushingin said chamber, having longitudinal conduits whereby the water may flowfrom one port through said conduits past the valve and out of the otherport, when said valve is away from said seats.

10. A. alve mechanism comprising two chambers'having a common outlet andsepa-

